“No, it doesn’t. I hope you never have kids.”
Now it’s my turn to practically snort. “Dude. I will never have kids. This town has enough Vaughns running around. There is no possible way I will have kids. Ever. I’ve nearly made it to my midlife crisis without a single fuckup. I’m very careful. And now it’s time to change the subject. Have you been out to the swap meet in Bellvue this weekend?”
“Nah. Have you?”
“Not yet. But I might stop by this afternoon. They have live music tonight. Some band from Grand Lake. And they’ve got a bike show going. Maybe that’s where Ronnie and Spencer are today? Probably took some bikes up there to show off.”
“Hmm. Well, give me a call if you go. I’m heading home after this to crash. Lilly and the kids are down at her mother’s house in the Springs so I’m gonna enjoy the silence while I can. So I might be up for it.”
“I wish I could crash. But it’s morning. And maybe I don’t know a lot about kids, but I know they don’t take naps in the morning. I need to tire her out so I can catch some z’s.”
“Vic, you really need to stop talking kids, man. This is not your thing.”
I just chuckle to myself as I apply his aftercare film. He hisses a little and we go quiet as I take my time so I don’t fuck up my amazing art. Finally, it’s all covered and he’s putting on his shirt.
I hand him his bag of aftercare goodies, then walk him up to the front counter and start ringing him up.
“Damn. They really do look like Ronnie when she was little.”
I glance up and find Bobby staring at the old family pics that line our walls. Sick Boyz has been in this downtown Fort Collins building for almost seventy years so there are currently four generations of fam up there. My gramps started the shop, then my dad took over, and then me and my brothers. Ronnie used to ink too, but she retired a while back now to be a mom. So maybe this place stops with us? Because Ronnie is the only one with kids and none of them are into drawing the way we were when we were little.
The princess is the spitting fucking image of Veronica at that age. It’s crazy weird how all those girls come out the same. This one is sprawled out on the couch now, happily coloring in her little sketchbook. That makes me pause. “Hey. When did you start drawing?”
“Who?” Bobby asks.
I nod my head to the niece. “Hey, princess?”
She looks up at me. Says nothing.
“Where’d you get that sketchbook?” It’s a nice one, but it’s old. And it’s got stickers all over it. “Did your mom give you that?” Maybe it’s one of Veronica’s old ones?
Princess nods.
“Hmm. I didn’t know you girls were into art. I thought you were all in love with those damn ponies.”
Princess says nothing.
“Where is everyone?” I ask her. “Some horse show? They getting ready for the swap meet? Aren’t you supposed to be in church this morning? I’m not taking you to church so…”
She ignores me.
“Well, she’s talkative.” Bobby chuckles. He pushes his credit card into the little reader, then sighs. “OK, Vic. Thanks a bunch, man. I know you didn’t want to spend your entire Saturday night working on me, so I appreciate it.”
“Yeah, well. You brought beer, so how could I say no?”
He didn’t drink, but I did. I was pretty buzzed there for a while. But I’m an even better artist when I’m drunk than I am straight.
“I’ve known you since grade school, Vic. I know how to get you on my side. Few six-packs of the local brews does it every time.”
“Too true. Thanks for that, by the way.”
Bobby shrugs. “It was the least I can do. Hey, don’t forget to call me if you go up to Bellvue later.”
“I probably will. It’s on the way out to Veronica and Spencer’s. And if they’re up there with the bikes, I can just drop the princess off with them.”
We clap hands, and then he takes off.
I lock the door behind him. I should’ve locked it last night. Guess I was more buzzed than I realized. “Hey.” I walk over to the niece, bend down, and breathe on her. “Haaaaaaaah. Do I smell like beer?”
She just looks up at me and makes a face.
“Because I’m fucking starving. I don’t want to go home and shower before we get food. It’s Sunday and that means Gramps is having his lady friend over for breakfast and he’ll hijack the kitch all morning. We need food, don’t you think?”
“Donuts?” Finally, she speaks.
I smile at her. Because maybe I don’t really like kids, but my nieces are damn cute. “Fuck it. Why not? Sure, we can get donuts. Do you know who has the best donuts on Sundays?”